ST. CATHARINES, Ontario (AP) Rookie defenseman Victor Mete has no trouble exchanging his Montreal Canadiens' jersey for Team Canada colors and an opportunity to compete in the World Junior hockey championships later this month.

Though the Canadiens placed Mete's NHL career on hold by allowing him to compete for Canada, the 19-year-old was excited to achieve another childhood dream of representing his country.

"It's cool to be here now," Mete said Tuesday after arriving for the national junior team's four-day selection camp in St. Catharines, Ontario. "Hopefully I can make the team and win a gold medal because that was probably the biggest thing I wanted since I've been a kid."